1860 Open Top Evolution

triple w · January 14, 2010, 12:11:32 PM

I've just about got my evolution of the 1860 style open tops completed.

(top) Richards conversion done by Ken Howell of R&D Conversions cal. 44 Colt

(center) Richard-Mason Conversion, Uberti cal, 44 Colt

(bottom) 1872 Open Top, Uberti, cal. .38 spl. w/ extra Bbl. & Cylinder in 44 Colt

Any idea of what a good used second generation Colt or Cimarron 1860 might be selling for these days?

TW

James Hunt · January 14, 2010, 03:08:01 PM

Very, very, very nice Richards conversion by Howell. I think I am breaking the 10th commandment at this very moment.

(10th commandment? You guy's are wishing you payed more attention in Sunday school aren't you - now ya gotta look it up. That would be Exodus chapter 20.)

Montana Slim · January 14, 2010, 09:17:24 PM

"Covet thy neighbor's 6-shooter" ??

Montana Slim, 2010

Pappy Hayes · January 15, 2010, 01:25:34 PM

Love that Millington conversion. Have always wanted first model of the Richards conversion. I have a pair of the type II from Uberti. I have been working on my collection of these also. I have a charcoal blue RM. Had to sell my Open Top to purchase my second Type II. If I can ever get my hands on a Type I, I would like to purchase another Open Top to finish out my collection. I have an 1860 Uberti black powder revolver also for the collection.

Major 2 · January 15, 2010, 04:56:01 PM

you guys are right up my alley..

2- 2nd Gen 1860's ( one with Kenny Howell's Drop in )
2- Richards Type 1's ( One from Kenny Howell and one USPFA )
No Type II

not because I did not try ( ordered one in Jan. 07 waited over year, in 60 more days increments) I used the money to by my second Type I

1 Richard & Mason

and I too sold the OT for the otherType I

BTW- there is a Remy (Forged Frame Fractory Uberti Conversion) in the Mix too...and Type 2nd Gen 51 Navy

Pappy Hayes · January 20, 2010, 10:26:41 AM

Thought I would share a pic of my Open tops. Top one is Uberti C&B. Next two are my Type II's and bottom one is my charcoal blue RM. All are 44's. Looking at maybe selling the RM to come up with the money to purchase a Type I. Would like to sell it local so I do not have to mess with trying to find someone that would mail it.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/Pappy_Hayes/My60armies.jpg[/IMG]

triple w · January 20, 2010, 10:46:18 AM

Quote from: Pappy Hayes on January 20, 2010, 10:26:41 AM
Thought I would share a pic of my Open tops. Top one is Uberti C&B. Next two are my Type II's and bottom one is my charcoal blue RM. All are 44's. Looking at maybe selling the RM to come up with the money to purchase a Type I. Would like to sell it local so I do not have to mess with trying to find someone that would mail it.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/Pappy_Hayes/My60armies.jpg[/IMG]

Very nice group of open tops Pap!...........Dang!.....Now I need to find a Type II as well as a 1860!!

Steel Horse Bailey · January 20, 2010, 11:04:43 AM

Looks like I'm a sinner, too - re: 10th Commandment

Texas Lawdog · January 20, 2010, 11:27:38 AM

SHB, You are in good company, my friend.

Highlander999 · April 22, 2010, 07:48:16 PM

Well, I am trying my best not to break the Commandment

Those are nice. Howell's work is unbelievable/awesome.

And Pappa Hayes, some really nice shooters.

The 1860 Colt, and it's variations has to be the nicest looking revolver ever made.

Long Johns Wolf · April 23, 2010, 01:17:46 AM

From the Belgian Colt fraction on the East side of the big pond my catridge firing OTs in .44 cal.
Top down Richards, Richards-Mason, Thuer.
Long Johns Wolf

Highlander999 · April 23, 2010, 06:45:14 AM

A photo of my three Open Tops. 1. ASM Richards in 38; 2. Cimarron Richards Mason in .44 Colt; 3. Cimarron 1872 Open Top in .44 Colt.

triple w · April 23, 2010, 08:17:22 AM

Wonderful open tops guys.....I love'm! Keep'm come'n.

rifle · April 23, 2010, 08:30:48 AM

You have to watch for the K.H. conversions. Just because it's a Howell doesn't mean it's tip top. There are some rough ones too. Not critisizing really. Just a fact to know.
I've a coupla Richards by San Marcos. The 1861 is the wrong caliber being a 44 Colt. The 1860 is the wrong caliber being a 38 Special and lacks the rebate to the cylinder. Both lack the back plates slight over-lap of the rear of the cylinder. I really like them though.
I have an odd ball Richards Mason conversion in a Walker Colt too. It's got the cylinder(original black powder cylinder it came with) cut back and reamed to 44. Throats a little large for the 44 since it's drilled the same diameter clean through. What you say? That's the way they were done so a heal bullet was used? This one has the barrel sleeved to 44 though. It was done a little rough in the conversion plate area. It'll need me to make a new conversion plate that is workable. The gunsmith that did the gun did a good job,eventually, with the cylinder but left the conversion plate rough and unusable. Well I guess it could be used if I got the firing pin hole in the right place and got the firing pin on the hammer to hit center on the primers.

I guess I'm just saying that there were other types of conversions done back in the day. About anything a person,within reason, could imagine. The blacksmith type conversions. A Walker original (Uberti) cylinder can be reamed to 44 cal. The 45's are too wide and break thru the cylinder notches. The Walkers have deep ones. If they were welded and shallowed they might work.
Anyway I plan to make a new backplate with a Richards type firing pin for the gun(maybe no gate) and fire 44 Specials in it loaded with Holy black. I figure the cartridges can be loaded with "balls" and the over large for the 44 throats would be contended with. Throats are larger than .430 because they were too large for 44 to start with in a 45 Walker. I should have R.L. Millington make a ordanance grade steel cylinder in 44 Special for me. I don't have a lathe. Just a mill.
Anyway.....collections can be widened by making some "blacksmith" type conversions too. Especially considering the "R&D Drop ins" cylinders are out there. People make their own 1851 type conversions all the time since the original cylinder can be used and a heel bullet used.
I'd like to see Uberti make a Richards conversion that utilizes the heel bullet in the 45 size original type barrel. All the Richards were actually 45's right? Using the percussion type barrels? I gotta look in my book.

Anyway I have Richards types. Richards Mason types. And blacksmith types(Walker and Navy Colts).
"Hobby Gunsmith" online made a Dragoon 45 Colt cal. conversion and fired it and lived to tell of it. Fired it with black powder and balls. The cylinder notches didn't bulge out either.
Hey Wolf...the barrels re-sleeved in those top two revs? I don't remember. You use 44's with heel bullets or 44's inside lubed bullets? Those are some really nice conversions. I wonder if the Belgians revs were used in the conversions? ha ha ha ha I really don't wonder. I know those are Centaures.ha ha ha

Long Johns Wolf · April 23, 2010, 09:57:48 AM

Rifle & all: yes these are Centaures converted "the Colt way" by a smith in the know. The Richards has the barrel lined to accomodate the .44 Colt inside lubed (.429 dia), the RM is for the same cartridge.
For the RM Army a semi-finished beefed-up Uberti RM barrel in .44 cal. (.429 again) was used to start with. Serious contouring & fitting was necessary to have Colt specs at the end of the day.
The Richards & RM conversion cylinders are newly lathed from ordnance grade steel. The Thuer conversion cylinder was made from a regular Centaure C&B cylinder.
I am only shooting light CAS smokeless loads behind 200 grainers from the Richards & the RM but the holy black in the Thuer.
Long Johns Wolf